Choosing the right tablecloth
A tablecloth should cover the table and hang evenly over every edge. The length of that overhang, called the drop, sets the style: short for everyday meals, longer for formal dinners and all the way to the floor for buffets and events. The calculator adds the drop to each side of your table to give the cloth size you need, and estimates how many people fit around it.
The formulas
- Rectangular or oval table: cloth length = table length + 2 × drop; cloth width = table width + 2 × drop
- Round table: cloth diameter = table diameter + 2 × drop
- Seats: about 24 inches of table edge per person, counted side by side on rectangular tables and around the perimeter on round and oval ones
Example
A rectangular table of 72 × 36 inches with an 8-inch drop needs a tablecloth of:
- Length: 72 + 2 × 8 = 88 inches
- Width: 36 + 2 × 8 = 52 inches
- Seats: three per long side and one at each end, 8 people
The nearest standard size above is 60 × 90 inches, which gives a drop of about 9 to 12 inches.
How long should the drop be?
| Use | Drop |
|---|---|
| Everyday dining | 6–8 in |
| Formal dinner | 10–15 in |
| Buffet or event | to the floor, about 29–30 in |
A chair seat is usually about 18 inches high, so a drop of up to 10 inches stays clear of guests’ laps. A floor-length cloth hides table legs and storage under a buffet table.
Standard sizes
Common rectangular tablecloths are 52 × 70, 60 × 84, 60 × 102 and 60 × 120 inches; square ones 52 × 52 and 70 × 70; round ones 70, 90, 108 and 120 inches across. When your result falls between two sizes, choose the larger one, and allow for shrinking with cotton and linen, which can lose a few percent in the first wash.
Oval tables
Measure the length and the width at the widest point and use an oval cloth of the same proportions. A rectangular cloth on an oval table hangs lower at the corners, which some people like for a relaxed look.